RON LEWIS, THE TIMES
“The former featherweight and super-bantamweight world champion never seemed in too much danger of losing to Horacio Garcia . . . but it was hardly a display to strike terror into the rest of the featherweight division and it left plenty of questions unanswered.
The Northern Irishman sets high standards. In his first fight since replacing his promoter-trainer team of Barry and Shane McGuigan with Frank Warren and Jamie Moore, he was expected to breeze past Garcia. But the Mexican was tough.
“Tougher than I would have chosen,” Warren said . . . “People don’t realise what has been going on behind the scenes, he has been under a lot of stress,” Moore said. “For him to go through a training camp, change his promoter, change his management team and put on a show like that and come through with a win is impressive.”
STEVE BUNCE, THE INDEPENDENT
“It took Carl Frampton 10 gruelling rounds to find out if he can still fight and if he still wants to fight . . .
Frampton was cut, had been trapped repeatedly on the ropes and looked truly exhausted when the final bell sounded to end a horrible year in and out of the ring . . .
It was not vintage Frampton, but neither was it Frampton in a Las Vegas ring 10 months ago.”
CHRIS MCKENNA, THE DAILY STAR
“Some would argue that being taken the 10-round distance by hardened Mexican Horacio Garcia was a sign that Frampton may be slipping.
But for him it was a night for adjustment after a summer of change.
“I got hit a bit too much, that’s all. I expect more of myself. I like to impress the fans as well, but I didn’t expect to be coming out with a face like this.”
THE IRISH NEWS
‘So what’s next for the Jackal? There’ll be a world title extravaganza at Windsor Park in the summer but he will fight in the spring and says he’ll be ready for a title shot by then.
“Several of the featherweight belts appear to be tied up. IBF champion Lee Selby will defend against Eduardo Ramirez next month and, if he wins, he is committed to fighting Josh Warrington next.
“Elsewhere, former Frampton foe Leo Santa Cruz (WBA) has made it clear that he intends to take on Abner Mares in a rematch and Scott Quigg is waiting to meet the winner.
“That leaves Oscar Valdez’s WBO belt and the WBC strap, which is currently held by Gary Russell jnr but may soon be up for grabs.
“It is a potential fight,” said Frampton.
“I’m hearing whispers that he’s going to move up to super-featherweight so who knows what happens there? I could either fight him or maybe a vacant title becomes available. We’ll see.”’
STEVE BATESON, MAX BOXING
“He and his team have their eyes on the belt holders at Featherweight but he may want another fringe world level competitive bout before engaging in a full blown assault on the titles, his time out of the ring definitely showed as the fight progressed . . .
It was an extremely tough night for Frampton, there may be question marks over whether he can still make Featherweight, but in time this may turn out invaluable as he bids for another world championship reign. Garcia made him work for the entire fight and showed that he was more than just an “opponent”’
“The former world super-bantamweight and featherweight champion bossed the first half of the fight but then found himself engaged in some hard toe to toe exchanges in the final third of the bout . . . Last night’s win over Garcia was just what the 30 year old Belfast man needed after a year of frustration.” DAVID KELLY, SUNDAY LIFE
“The decision didn’t sit well with many, particularly for boxing titan Canelo Alvarez who was watching on from ring side to support his close friend and fellow countryman Garcia.” PRESS ASSOCIATION
“It was a close fight, with the judges perhaps generous.” JOHN DENNEN, BOXING NEWS
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